Archive for the ‘Kindness’ Category

Friends are the stuff of life.  Good friends are solid gold. They tell you the truth you don’t want to hear, and just know when you’re in need. Many of us have other friends who suck our energy and drain us with their neediness.

I’m blessed with friends who show up in the most amazing ways. They offer their gifts, kindness, honesty, and playfulness. They offer their time. That is priceless!

Let’s face it, we are wired for connection.  We may think we can do it ourselves. Maybe we can. But life is so much sweeter when the joys and sorrows are shared.

Don’t have a close friend around?  Become your own best friend. Lift, inspire, and support yourself in every way possible. Then share that with others.

You will automatically begin to attract people that lift, inspire, and support you.  You may be surprised to find your energy higher, your smile wider, and life sweeter.

Oh, and those negative friends, they will likely disappear.

Do what you love and the Spirit will follow! In today’s world there is a growing trend toward applying spiritual principles in everyday life. That includes not only your personal life, but your business life as well.

Millions of individuals are no longer willing to compromise their ethics for their paycheck.  Large portions of corporate Americans are leaving, either by choice or lay off.  Many are choosing to simplify their lifestyle, oftentimes choosing to follow a dream and become entrepreneurs. Greed and corruption have broken the backs of many corporations.

There is a countering ground swell of people who practice applied spirituality. They care, take appropriate action, and actively work to make this world a better place. They have always been there. Now, however, the are becoming more visible.

What is practical spirituality? I refer to spiritual as that which expresses the highest part of our nature, and religion as a container through which we express this nature. Spirituality can be expressed apart from religion, although religion is not really separate from spirituality.

Practical spirituality is the application of spiritual principles to life. Love, faith, integrity, trust, gratitude, acceptance, cooperation, curiosity, joy, service, and creativity represent facets in the fabric of spiritual expression. When these attributes are applied in the business world they foster good will, loyalty, and a host of other benefits to employees and customers alike.

In the four years between 1994 and 1998, the Gallup organization found that the number of people who said they needed spiritual growth jumped from 56 to 82 percent. Today, workshops and books integrating spirituality and business are common. 

Fifteen years ago, the separation between spiritual practice and business was distinct. Boundary crossing was an illicit journey.  As a national karate champion, I had the luxury of sharing my spiritual perspectives with the language of the martial arts. The paradox is that the martial arts are spiritual arts.

Commitment to something you love will eventually blossom into the language of spirituality.  To love life is to live fully.  To live fully requires discipline, or discipleship towards something. Martial arts, a business, a loved hobby, service to others, caring for those you love, and commitment to a cause are all aspects of a spiritual life in action.

Retired Americans  are looking for second or third careers. While some do so out of necessity, others express a heartfelt desire to make a difference in the world – spirituality in action.

Young people have embraced social entrepreneurship and social media as avenues to create change.  It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to donate 10% of their income to charities of their choice. Young and old alike are actively reaching out to build bridges of opportunity for those they have chosen to serve.  The gifts they bring gives me hope that, “The best is yet to come.”

If you would like more information about integrating practical spirituality in the business world, register now in the box below for a complimentary tele-seminar on June 18th, 2009, at 6:00 p.m. PST.  The call will be hosted byTom Martin of Martin Media.  Learn how to build your bottom line while lifting your Spirit.

Your confirmation will go directly to your inbox. Please hit the respond button to insure your registration.  Thanks for investng in your own future.

I spent some time today with my amazing mastermind group. So many brilliant women, pushing so hard to accomplish something!  Myself included….Recognizing that quality in others allowed me to laugh at myself.  There is no place to go other than the place I am.  Ironically, the place I am contains the seeds to get me where I want to go.  All it takes is the willingness to stop, look, and listen.  Hum…sounds like something from a children’s book. Drat!  I’m back in first grade again.

Stop, Look, Listen.  What would happen if we just stopped, looked and listened to our own physical, emotional and mental rhythms during the day?  What would happen if we chose to be kind to ourself no matter what? It’s simple. Just not easy.

My wonderful husband has been gone 10 months. I don’t want to stop, look or listen to what I’m feeling. It hurts!  It’s inconvenient!  I get frustrated with my own frustration and impatience with myself.   My starts and stops with the grieving process have a life of their own. 

It’s no different when we embark on a new goal, challenge or relationship.  Life has its own rhythm and each of us marches to our own inner drummer. Trouble is, sometimes our drummer is doing her own thing — and we want to march to someone else’s drum.

Kindness is king. It allows us the dignity of moving at our own pace.  That pace may not be what our ego wants or demands.  It is, however, the pace that we are moving. Experience has shown me that when I stop and look I have the opportunity to listen to my deepest needs.

If I let go and co-operate with my own internal rhythm, then my inner flow will begin to move me exactly where I need to be. Second guessing myself just slows me down. Kindness frees me to accept myself as I am. Kindness is king of the mountain, and I’m on top, no matter where I am.

Do you dare stop, look and listen…and trust you will be exactly where you need to be at the moment you arrive?

Kindness is King. Let it have its rightful place as the leader in your life. You won’t be disappointed.